House Speaker Mike Johnson Opposes Ghislaine Maxwell Pardon

House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed strong opposition to the idea of pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, a convicted sex trafficker serving a 20-year sentence for her role in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse ring. In interviews, Johnson called her sentence a "pittance" and advocated for a life sentence, emphasizing the severity and evil nature of her crimes. While Johnson acknowledged that the decision to pardon lies solely with President Donald Trump, who has not ruled out the possibility, he made clear that he personally has "great pause" about granting a pardon. The issue has created tension within the Republican Party and Trump's base, with some advocating for a pardon in exchange for Maxwell's cooperation in revealing more information about Epstein's crimes, a proposal Johnson does not support. Maxwell is appealing her conviction, and the Justice Department has been reviewing the Epstein case amid public and political pressure for greater transparency. Johnson stressed his role is to oversee the House and seek the truth, not to influence the President's pardon decisions.